Ready to love yourself from the inside out?
One’s body confidence has a significant effect on mental health, happiness, and quality of life. Many studies have examined this correlation between how people view themselves and their overall psychology.
Body image issues don’t just impact how a person feels when they look in the mirror. Low confidence can affect friendships, careers, time with family, social activities, and even physical health.
The good news? There are ways to fix these problems.
Let’s take a look…
What you’ll learn:
- How Body Confidence Impacts Mental Health
- The Mental Health of Body Image
- Body Contouring Surgery Offers Life-Changing Benefits
- Tips to Develop Permanent Confidence
How Body Confidence Impacts Mental Health
Our mental health is strongly tied to how we feel about our bodies.
Studies show that body image satisfaction is a key factor in mental wellbeing. In fact, research from the Mental Health Foundation found that 35% of adults have experienced depression as a result of their body image. Over one-third of people suffered some type of depressive episode because they were unhappy with how they looked.
It doesn’t stop there, either…
One in eight adults even go so far as to say they’ve experienced suicidal thoughts or tendencies as a result of their body image. If you’re wondering why people struggle so much with low confidence, now you have some answers.
Having a positive body image can help promote sound mental health. Individuals who aren’t bothered by the way they look tend to experience lower levels of anxiety and depression. They also exhibit healthier levels of self-esteem and face less difficulty when interacting with others.
But what if exercise and dieting aren’t enough?
As helpful as healthy eating habits and exercise can be, they can only do so much. For some people, there are stubborn areas of fat they can’t shake. Others are left with loose, hanging skin after weight loss. You can’t control genetics. No matter how healthy you eat or how many hours you spend at the gym, you will always be left with the same bone structure and body type you were born with.
That’s where transformative body contouring can help.
By working together, your mental health specialist and cosmetic surgeon can
Patients who have worked on improving their bodies both in and out of the gym commonly report seeing changes to their mental health as well. Having cosmetic surgery to fix problem areas you can’t target takes your self-confidence to the next level.
The Mental Health of Body Image
Body image is complicated, which is why some people have more trouble with it than others.
When we think about body image, we have to consider how it affects us psychologically. Body image consists of 4 components.
- Perceptual (How you see your body)
- Affective (How you feel about your body)
- Cognitive (What you think about your body)
- Behavioural (How you act towards your body)
If people feel negatively about one or more of these aspects of their body, it can contribute to issues in other areas of their life. Whether that be anxiety around social settings, fighting with loved ones, or limiting beliefs that prevent career growth.
Here’s another thing…
Society and the media place images of “perfect” bodies in front of us everywhere we look. Pair that with high pressure to be thin or muscular and you’ve got yourself a recipe for body image issues. People of all ages, genders, and backgrounds struggle with confidence.
What many people don’t know is that research dating back to the 1990s has shown that the majority of cosmetic surgery patients were satisfied with their surgery. More recent studies have even discovered that these patients also experienced decreases in anxiety and depression while improving their quality of life overall.
Body Contouring Surgery Offers Life-Changing Benefits
You might be thinking, “How can surgery I do to my body impact my mental health?”
When patients leave our clinic feeling confident in their skin after body contouring, many experience life-changing benefits.
Body contouring procedures don’t just improve a patient’s self-esteem. Because patients feel better about how they look, they also experience a better quality of life. They have more confidence to do the things they love, feel comfortable around others, and aren’t scared to meet new people.
Research even shows…
Patients who underwent body contouring surgery after massive weight loss showed increased quality of life and patient satisfaction. Not only did they feel better about how they looked, but procedures also helped to improve their self-esteem, social lives, workability, sexual activities, and physical activities.
The psychology behind body contouring surgery is simple when you think about how it makes patients feel.
Once someone has their procedure and loves the results, they don’t have to worry about trying to hide or workout the areas of their body they were self-conscious about. They can finally feel confident.
Patients report benefits include:
- Feeling comfortable in social environments
- Wanting to do more activities
- Having healthier sex lives
- Feeling confident at work
- Just feeling happier
There are countless studies out there that follow patients for years after their procedures. Those that focused on the psychological effects of body contouring found that patients were just as satisfied with their mental wellbeing years down the road.
Tips to Develop Permanent Confidence
While body contouring can help you improve your body image, surgery isn’t a make-it-or-break-it type of deal.
If you don’t take care of your mental health while continuing healthy practices after your procedure, you’re not likely to feel the effects we talked about above. But when you do everything you can to feel your best on the inside and outside, you’re setting yourself up for success.
Keep these tips in mind when considering body contouring surgery:
The patients who felt the best about their decision to have cosmetic surgery were looking for internal changes. They wanted to feel better about how they looked, not please someone else.
It’s also important to remember how to upkeep your body after surgery. Following your doctor’s guidelines will help you heal properly. Staying active and eating right will ensure you keep your body contouring results.
Of course, some people might benefit from mental health support before and after surgery. Talking to a therapist about your decision could help you visualise what you want. Processing your new body post-operation can also help you establish healthy thoughts about your new body.
Remember:
Body confidence doesn’t just affect your mental health. Your mentality can affect how you perceive your body too. They go hand in hand.
When you feel good about how you look on the outside, it encourages you to take care of yourself on the inside. Before you know it, you have yourself a happy healthy cycle that better your body image and mental health.
Let’s Wrap Things Up
Your body image can have serious impacts on your mental wellbeing.
Not only does low confidence make you feel unsatisfied with your appearance, but it can lead to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Luckily we live in a world where cosmetic surgery can help you improve the way you look and feel about yourself.
Surgery isn’t for everybody, but if you’ve tried everything else there’s no harm in learning more. Your body confidence affects more than you realise. It impacts how you feel mentally and physically.
Here are the main takeaways from this article:
- How you perceive your body affects your mental health
- Diet and exercise can only change your body so much
- Body contouring can have long-lasting positive effects on your mental health
- Combine cosmetic procedures with healthy habits for the best results
Improving your body confidence is about more than just looking good. When you love how you look on the outside, it’ll reflect on the inside too.
Disclaimer
This article is published by Open MedScience for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical, psychological, psychiatric, or surgical advice, nor should it be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment.
The information presented reflects general research findings and reported experiences related to body confidence, mental wellbeing, and cosmetic procedures. Individual outcomes vary, and responses to lifestyle changes, therapy, or surgical interventions differ from person to person.
Any references to cosmetic or body contouring procedures are not endorsements or guarantees of results. Decisions about medical or surgical treatments should always be made in consultation with appropriately qualified healthcare professionals, including registered medical practitioners and mental health specialists, who can assess personal circumstances, risks, and suitability.
Open MedScience accepts no liability for actions taken based on the content of this article. Readers are encouraged to make informed decisions by seeking independent professional advice tailored to their individual needs.
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